The Journey of Rocky Rhodes - From Tech to Coffee and Public Service

Join us for an engaging conversation with Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Rhodes of Simi Valley, California, as we explore his unique journey from the high-tech industry to founding a coffee business and eventually delving into public service. This episode dives into the principles of compassionate capitalism, the challenges of urban vs. rural governance, and the importance of maintaining a high quality of life in Simi Valley. Rocky shares insights from his global travels, the economic challenges of housing development, and the fundamental issue of balancing government control and local autonomy. Don't miss this in-depth discussion on sustainable development, the intricacies of city planning, and the ever-evolving political landscape.

00:00 Intro to Rocky Rhodes
00:53 Rocky's Journey to Public Service
01:11 Entrepreneurial Ventures in Coffee Industry
02:56 Compassionate Capitalism Explained
05:47 Global Impact and Cultural Insights
09:31 Challenges in Local Governance
11:22 Housing Projects: Successes and Failures
18:33 Political Philosophy and Government Critique
30:34 The Single Issue Voter Mentality
31:20 The Complexity of the Presidency
32:42 Thanos and Historical Villains
34:16 China's Surveillance and Capitalism
36:56 Cultural Differences and Privacy
40:22 Diversity of Religion
46:46 The Middle Ground in Politics
54:50 Challenges of Bureaucracy and Government Efficiency
58:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer speaks with Cesar Hidalgo, a Chilean Spanish-American scholar known for his contributions to economic complexity, data visualization, and applied artificial intelligence. They discuss the problems with democracy today, such as political polarization and identity-based politics. They also explore the idea of augmented democracy, using AI agents to support politicians and citizens in the voting process. They highlight the need for a more direct and nuanced representation of people's opinions and propose starting with low-stakes contexts to test the effectiveness of augmented democracy.

Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the “us and them” narrative and toxic polarization by striving to create virtuous community leadership and authentic conversation. We showcase the humanity in those who take on the often thankless jobs of public service, civil discourse, differing points of view, and how we can improve our politics and society as a whole.

Recorded July 18, 2023

About Cesar Hidalgo

César A. Hidalgo is a Chilean-Spanish-American scholar known for his contributions to economic complexity, data visualization, and applied artificial intelligence. Hidalgo leads the Center for Collective Learning at the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Institute (ANITI) of the University of Toulouse and the Corvinus Institute for Advanced Studies at Corvinus University of Budapest. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester. Between 2010 and 2019 Hidalgo led MIT’s Collective Learning group. Prior to working at MIT, Hidalgo was a research fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Hidalgo is also a founder of Datawheel, an award winning company specialized in the creation of data distribution and visualization systems. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor in Physics from Universidad Católica de Chile. Hidalgo’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2018 Lagrange Prize and three Webby Awards. Hidalgo's is also the author of dozens of peer-reviewed papers and of three books: Why Information Grows (Basic Books, 2015), The Atlas of Economic Complexity (MIT Press, 2014), and How Humans Judge Machines (MIT Press, 2021).

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Welcome to another exciting episode of Meyerside Chats! In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Leslie Crutchfield, an author, educator, and social change expert. Leslie is the Executive Director of Business for Impact at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and her latest book, "How Change Happens: Why some movements succeed while others don't," has garnered significant praise and recognition. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of social change and gain insights from Leslie's extensive experience and research.

More About Leslie Crutchfield

Leslie is an author, educator, social change expert and Executive Director of Business for Impact at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Business for Impact is founded on the belief is that companies can be a powerful force for good in the world, and delivers world-class education, student experience, and cross-sector collaborations for people, planet and profit.

Leslie’s latest book is How Change Happens: Why Some Movements Succeed While Others Don’t, noted in The New York Review of Books as a blueprint for groups inspired to take action on today’s major causes. Leslie also co-authored the bestselling Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits – recognized by The Economist on its Best Books of the Year list – and Do More than Give. She teaches corporate social responsibility in Georgetown’s MBA program and nonprofit leadership on LinkedIn Learning.

Leslie previously was managing director at Ashoka, the global venture fund for social entrepreneurs, and co-founded a national nonprofit social enterprise in her 20s. Leslie has contributed to Fortune, Forbes, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Stanford Social Innovation Review, and has appeared on programs such as ABC, FOX, NPR and PBS. She has volunteered on SEED Foundation and Kiva’s boards and with Crossroads Africa.

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com,

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer interviews Rammayya Krishnan, Dean of Public Policy and Information Systems @ Carnegie Melon University, an expert in digital transformation and technology management. They discuss the role of decision-making models in voting, particularly in local and state issues. Krishnan highlights the importance of an informed populace and the challenges of acquiring accurate information in the age of filter bubbles and misinformation. They also touch on the need for humility in the information we consume and how technology can support this. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the significance of having a shared base of information to make informed decisions. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on Meyerside Chats!

Podcast Highlights:

[00:01:41] Exploring the use of cloud technology in society and policy-making.

[00:02:11] Discussing decision-making models in voting for the public and policymakers.

[00:12:16] The influence of technology on shared experiences and bridging differences.

[00:14:01] Building relationships and bridges between different political opinions.

[00:16:00] The role of being a good listener and demonstrating respect in conversations.

[00:24:47] Contrasting the lack of understanding of social media by policymakers in the past.

[00:25:25] The potential of AI to educate and provide faster access to information for policymakers and the public.

[00:27:00] AI's role in helping understand complex public interest issues.

[00:29:48] Mitigating AI's negative effects through measures like provenance and watermarking.

[00:33:00] The absence of a perfect solution to the information problem.

[00:33:33] Cautions about AI's predictive capabilities and data representation.

[00:35:37] The potential benefits of AI in supporting decision-making and speeding up processes.

[00:37:00] Overcoming bias in data to ensure representation of society as a whole.

[00:39:48] Responsible AI implementation, understanding the system as a whole, and differential impact on individuals.

[00:40:23] Augmentation for democracy and the need for careful consideration of the pipeline.

[00:41:00] Assisting policymakers with AI tools to catch up with policy-making demands.

[00:43:35] Vision for a more prosperous, peaceful, and just society using technology for good.

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About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

In this episode, we delve into the critical issues of leadership, transparency, and distorted narratives that impact the construction of a more perfect union in the United States. Our guest, David Satterfield, brings a wealth of experience and firsthand knowledge from being in the room where important conversations take place. We explore the limitations of public information and the potential consequences of misleading representations. Join us as we discuss the significance of accurate narratives, the role of the media, and the challenges faced in ensuring that the American people have access to vital information.

Podcast Highlights:

[00:02:41] Discussion on the current state of division and disagreement in US foreign policy.

[00:03:00] Historical context of sharp divisions and the exceptional degree of public agreement in the past.

[00:10:17] The role of the internet and social media in creating a lack of common facts and information.

[00:11:37] The impact of changing expectations and globalization on populist and demagogic appeals.

[00:13:31] Avoiding contempt and catering to ethnic or racial identities as a response.

[00:14:22] Different approaches: feeding, exploiting, or addressing the concerns.

[00:16:00] Socioeconomic drivers behind the problems and the need for their resolution.

[00:16:45] Loss of trust in foreign policy experts due to events like 9/11 and disastrous military adventures.

[00:19:58] The concept of being "in the room where it happens" and how certain information is withheld from the public in various conversations and levels of decision-making.

[00:20:00] The issue of the media and the distortion of narratives, questioning how far the American people and others are from the information presented in these private discussions.

[00:27:40] Media's role in polarizing issues and the influence of corruption, lobbying, and private interests.

[00:38:00] Three critical threats: divisions in the United States, socioeconomic challenges, and poorly considered military adventures overseas.

[00:41:34] Discussion on the influence of business dealings on political decisions.

[00:42:50] Exploring personal vision and the importance of facts shaping action.

[00:44:03] The danger of ideology overpowering available facts.

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Maria Madison is the interim Dean of Brandeis University.

A trained global public health researcher, Madison holds a Doctorate in population and international health from Harvard. She joined Brandeis with over two decades of international experience, designing, implementing and managing various projects and studies including clinical drug trials and registries, where she oversaw large, complex, multinational teams, with an abundance of her work in Africa. She is also president and founder of The Robbins House, a historic building and nonprofit organization focused on preserving Concord, Massachusetts’ Black history. She is also a trustee of Tufts University, from which she holds bachelor's and master’s degrees, and is an associate editor of the journal Health Equity.

Podcast Summary

The innate human propensity for hierarchy and "us and them." | 6:00
Paying for the sins of our grandparents | 8:00
Challenging your echo Chambers with opposing views | 10:00
Quality of life in America and it's barriers | 14:00
Exercise & nutrition information during COVID vis a vis social drivers | 17:00
Obesity in America and how to start fixing it | 22:00
The balance of responsibility | 24:00
The responsibility of universities | 26:00
Adaptive capacity | 32:00
Private interest vs social responsibility | 35:00
Venture capitalism & social businesses | 39:00
Replacement theory | 42:00
Greater exposure means greater respect | 44:00
How to deal with information and/or people you disagree with & recast theory | 45:00
How to accept new information that conflicts with your previous knowledge | 49:00
Everyone has a migration story | 55:00

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Summary
Intro to Nolan McCary | 0:00
What is Democratic backsliding and are we experiencing it? | 5:15
Why every president is blamed or praised for his successes and failures depending on what side you're on? | 6:30
How the train derailment in East Palestine exemplified the fundamental toxic polarization issue? | 7:40
Politics of confirmation bias | 10:55
Why does every election gets delegitimized by the opposite party? | 13:30
What is the general margin of error for election votes?
Issues with our election process 18:00
Why the context of "facts" matters & Trump/Biden election fairness | 25:00
Why is civic humility so hard? | 26:00
Marriage between couples of different political parties has become less accepted than that of different faiths, religions, or ethnicities | 35:00
Many political leaders misusing social media. | 37:00
Is polarization intentional? 39:30
Where does Princeton stand with the claims about liberal University indoctrination? | 43:00
Academic freedom and institutional neutrality | 48:00
What are Nolan's goals as a result of his efforts in polarization? | 55:00
The importance of not eliminating polarization if it means not talking about important topics | 58:00

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Recorded February 1,, 2023

Evan Meyer welcomes the Dean of Public Policy at New York University, Sherry Glied on this episode of Meyerside Chats.

Meyerside Chats seeks to eliminate the "us and them" narrative and toxic polarization by striving to create virtuous community leadership and authentic conversation. The intent is to showcase the humanity in those that take on the often thankless jobs of public service through civil discourse, and honoring differing points of view.

About Sherry Glied

In 2013, Sherry Glied was named Dean of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. From 1989-2013, she was Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She was Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management from 1998-2009. On June 22, 2010, Glied was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, and served in that capacity from July 2010 through August 2012. She had previously served as Senior Economist for health care and labor market policy on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in 1992-1993, under Presidents Bush and Clinton, and participated in the Clinton Health Care Task Force. She has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and served as a member of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. In 2021, the Association of University Programs in Health Administration selected her as the recipient of the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research. The following year, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences elected her as a 2022 Fellow.

Glied’s principal areas of research are in health policy reform and mental health care policy. Her book on health care reform, Chronic Condition, was published by Harvard University Press in January 1998. Her book with Richard Frank, Better But Not Well: Mental Health Policy in the U.S. since 1950, was published by The Johns Hopkins University Press in 2006. She is co-editor, with Peter C. Smith, of The Oxford Handbook of Health Economics, which was published by the Oxford University Press in 2011.

Glied holds a B.A. in economics from Yale University, an M.A. in economics from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

Podcast Summary

1. Introduction to Sherry Glede |

Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.

He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.